BA flight cancelled and have to pay extra accommodation

[VPS]

As your friend has a few months up their sleeve, it might be worth writing to BA via the online complaint platform on their website. This is what I did as per this thread and it was all resolved. It's not the exact same scenario, but somewhat similar. Without going into too much detail, they have some technical issues and 'policies' are being enforced incorrectly in their systems. Their call centre staff can't help, but their team in the UK can. Complaints lodged through the website are handled by the latter. It took several weeks, but we got there in the end.

Thanks - I've just read that thread and will send him the info

 

[serfty]

It is a Aer Lingus metal. He's very accepting of things like this - once Qantas changed one of his flights and he had to ring them to sort it out and he asked if he had to pay anything else

Makes sense as there is likely more to this.

I have made some enquires of someone well versed in these matters who is a denizen of the UK. There appears to be plenty of availability any day in May.

There should have been no issue to swap to an alternative flight on the same day as originally booked. BA and Aer Lingus codeshare on this route with typically well over a dozen flights a day between them. Moreover there are services from LCY & LGW. BA also has distance based rule, which would allow a direct change to Belfast. This is before looking outside IAG.

Given all that, it is unlikely BA would pay for accommodation as UK 261 duty of care only refers to accommodation when the revised flight departs on a later date then that originally booked, not earlier.

 

[VPS]

Makes sense as there is likely more to this.

I have made some enquires of someone well versed in these matters who is a denizen of the UK. There appears to be plenty of availability any day in May.

There should have been no issue to swap to an alternative flight on the same day as originally booked. BA and Aer Lingus codeshare on this route with typically well over a dozen flights a day between them. Moreover there are services from LCY & LGW. BA also has distance based rule, which would allow a direct change to Belfast. This is before looking outside IAG.

Given all that, it is unlikely BA would pay for accommodation as UK 261 duty of care only refers to accommodation when the revised flight departs on a later date then that originally booked, not earlier.

Thanks - I think it may be a bit of acceptance. He does like to plan things very early. Already applied for ETA when they aren't leaving until May